When creating artwork in Adobe Illustrator for client projects or for in-house use, you can simulate the look of stamped type, applying special effects to make your text look worn and distressed. Some techniques require you to convert your live type to static outlines, which the Type tool cannot edit. Some Illustrator effects rely on pixel-based technologies that output resolution-dependent bitmaps. If you use Illustrator's live effects to achieve your artistic objectives, you can alter the appearance of the objects in your composition, preserve your live type and create resolution-independent vector output.

Click on the live area of your artboard to create a point type object. Type the text you want to appear in your stamp.

Switch to the Selection tool in the Illustrator toolbox and click on your type object to activate it. Open the "Effect" menu, locate its "Distort & Transform" submenu and choose "Roughen." Set the size option to 2 percent, the detail to 50 per inch and the points to smooth. Click the "OK" button to apply your effect.

Press "Ctrl-C" to copy your text to the clipboard. Press "Ctrl-F" to place a duplicate of your point text immediately above the original in the same location on your artboard.

Open the "Effect" menu, locate its "Distort & Transform" submenu and choose "Roughen" again. When Illustrator warns you that you're about to apply another instance of the Roughen effect, click the "Apply New Effect" button to proceed.

Set the Roughen size option to 1 percent, the detail to 30 per inch and the points to smooth. Click the "OK" button to apply your effect. The combination of two layers of type with Roughen applied to them gives the ragged-edged appearance of a distressed rubber stamp.

Tips

To turn your live type and its live effects into static vector artwork that preserves the distressed look, open the "Object" menu and choose "Expand Appearance." You can select and convert each type object individually, or select both and convert them in one step.

Adjust the Roughen effect settings to suit the amount of edge treatment you want for your design. These settings may vary depending on the size of your type, the typeface you choose, and the boldness or lightness of the style.

Open the "Window" menu and choose "Layers" so you can turn off the visibility of one or the other of your two type objects in the Layers panel to evaluate each one's contribution to the effect independently.

Warning

If you convert the output of the Roughen effect to static vector art, the result may include large numbers of anchor points. This kind of complexity can be difficult to print.

About the Author

Elizabeth Mott has been a writer since 1983. Mott has extensive experience writing advertising copy for everything from kitchen appliances and financial services to education and tourism. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in English from Indiana State University.